From our perspective, we mints are simply programmed for success. Our primary survival strategy is not through delicate flowers or fragile seeds, but through an extensive network of underground stems called rhizomes. These pale, determined runners tirelessly explore the subterranean world, sending up new shoots (that's us!) at every opportunity to claim territory. Above ground, our stems can also root where they touch the soil. We are not being "aggressive"; we are being exceptionally efficient. In our native stream-side environments, this strategy allows us to form dense colonies that prevent soil erosion. In your garden, this same brilliant adaptation is what you call "taking over."
If you wish to enjoy our fragrant leaves without a constant battle, the most effective method is to impose physical limits that work with our biology. Planting us in a pot is a clear and respectful boundary. However, do not simply sink a pot with a bottom into the soil; our rhizomes will quickly find the drainage holes and escape. Instead, plant us in a container without a bottom, like a five-gallon bucket, but sink it so at least two inches of the rim remains above the soil surface. This creates a lip that our horizontal runners cannot cross. Alternatively, you can dedicate a raised bed to us, but line the sides and bottom with a sturdy, impenetrable barrier before filling it with soil.
You can direct our growth through consistent interaction. Regularly harvesting our leaves for your mint tea or mojitos is not a punishment; it is a helpful pruning that signals us to become bushier rather than spread outward. Pinch off our flower buds before they bloom. Flowering and setting seed consumes a tremendous amount of our energy. By preventing this, you redirect our resources back into producing the lush, vegetative growth you desire, and you also stop us from spreading via seed, which, while a lesser concern than our rhizomes, is still a possibility.
While we are adaptable, our growth rate is influenced by our environment. You can slightly temper our enthusiasm by planting us in a location that receives partial shade, as full sun fuels our most vigorous expansion. However, do not plant us in deep shade or poor soil in an attempt to weaken us; we are tenacious and may simply become leggy and less flavorful while still spreading. The best approach is to combine a sunnier spot (which produces the best flavor) with the physical containment methods mentioned above. This allows us to thrive in a controlled manner, providing you with the best harvest while keeping our wanderlust in check.
